Michael Keaton Filmed a Scene For ‘Aquaman 2’

Simply final week, Jason Momoa revealed in an Instagram submit that Ben Affleck’s Batman would make an look within the upcoming Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom. The information got here as a shock, significantly as a result of Affleck had publicly said he was performed with “IP films” and since it appeared like two completely different males had already changed him as Batman: Robert Pattinson, who starred on this spring’s The Batman, and Michael Keaton, who performed the Darkish Knight within the late Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties and is scheduled to return within the upcoming film of The Flash.

Now it sounds just like the story of Affleck’s return in Aquaman is perhaps extra sophisticated than it first appeared. A Hollywood Reporter article predominantly concerning the also-surprising resolution to shelve Warner Bros.’ Batgirl film that was already deep into manufacturing and would have co-starred Michael Keaton’s Batman reveals that Keaton had additionally filmed a scene for Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom. 

However the THR piece claims that check audiences discovered this scene “complicated, because it was unclear why Keaton’s Batman was on this universe.” That’s probably as a result of the film that reintroduces Keaton’s character is The Flash, which was initially deliberate to open earlier than Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom, however is now premiering subsequent fall whereas Aquaman is due this coming spring. With out The Flash, a Keaton look in Aquaman would want plenty of explaining. (THR says Keaton was initially deliberate because the DC Universe’s equal of Nick Fury, “an elder statesman who might pop up in a number of movies and supply steerage.”)

The article then speculates that the truth that Affleck filmed a scene as Batman for Aquaman 2 means that “Keaton had been changed with Affleck’s model of the character.” So whereas this isn’t confirmed, it additionally appears attainable that we’ve reached some extent the place Keaton’s efficiency as Batman in two films — Batgirl and Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom — would possibly simply vanish into some Warner Bros. vault someplace. (And what does this imply for The Flash? Why would Warner Bros. do away with all these Keaton Batman appearances in the event that they nonetheless have his large return due in a couple of 12 months?)

Between Batgirl and Aquaman, all these stories level to some enormous shakeups coming to the DC film universe within the close to future. Along with Aquaman 2 and The Flash, Warner Bros. at the moment has Black Adam with Dwayne Johnson deliberate for this fall, and Shazam 2 due in December. Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom is scheduled to open in theaters on March 17, 2023. However on the charge issues are going, I wouldn’t guess my life on any of those films popping out as marketed.